Combined case and voting-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. J. F. OONNELLY & J. H. MoLEQD. COMBINED CASE ANDVOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1905.

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No. 896,896. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. J. F. (lONNF LLY & J. H. McLEOD.COMBINED CASE AND VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 896,896. PATENTED AUG. 25,1908. J. F. 00NNELLY & J. H. MoLEOD.

COMBINED CASE AND VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

s. I INVENTORS. 24: l8 5 6 fl'amsF Einnally, w Kc'rJuhflTIPI LEuL UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES I CONNELLY AND JOHN H. MoLEOD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TOU. S.

STANDARD VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

COMBINED CASE AND VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908,

Application filed February 2, 1905. Serial No. 243,789.

-States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a CombinedCase and Voting-Machine; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in votingmachines; and, our present invention has reference, more particularly,to a novel device or means which is employed with a case or box and withthe voting machine permanently arranged and secured therein,so as topractically form a part of the same, the device or means being designedto elevate the voting machine relatively into its operative or votingposition to the said case or box, and when in its normal and inactiveposition within the case or box having certain movable parts or sectionsof the case or box inclosed about the machine, and preferably locked.

It is a well known fact, that the laws of the various States in whichvoting machines are used, require that the voting machines, before andafter an election, be stored and securely locked within stout and heavycases or boxes, to prevent tampering with the machines, and for otherprotection of the machine in carting the same from one place to another.When it is desired to use the voting machine at a polling precinct, asnow arranged and stored in the case or box, it becomes necessary toremove the voting machine entirely from the case or box and attach tothe body of the voting machine suitable legs or standards, that themachine may be set up in its operative position for voting. In doingthis, the main difliculty presented is, that, on account of the weightand size of the voting machine, together with the delicate nature of themechanism, the machines are exceedingly troublesome things for theofiicials to handle, requiring two and often more men to handle themachine in removing it from its case and in setting it up for votingpurposes, all at a considerable time and great expense. The same numberof men, and the same amount of time and cost are necessary to take downthe voting machine, repack and load it, and return the same for storagesubsequent to the election.

Realizing that the packing and repacking of the voting machine in itscase or box, together with the time consumed in setting up the machine,with the accompanying danger of improperly handling and hence thepossibility of destroying the utility of the machine, it is theprincipal purpose of our invention to devise a means to lessen theexisting difliculties in the way of the expeditious handling of thecumbersome machines, to greatly reduce the time and cost of manipulation of the voting machine at the voting precinct, and to reduce to aminimum the danger of breaking or otherwise damaging any part or partsof the voting machine, due

to dropping or improperly affixing the legs or standards to the body ofthe voting machine.

The principal object of this invention,

therefore, is to provide a cheap, simple and efficiently operating meansor device, which can be readily and safely manipulated by one person,for bringing the voting machine into its proper position for votingthereon.

To accomplish the various objects and purposes of our present invention,the machine is practically made part of the case or box, althoughmovably connected therewith, or

vice versa; the arrangements and combinations of the various parts beingextremely simple. With our novel arrangement and combination of thevoting machine proper and its inclosing case or box, the legs orstandards of the machines now employed are done away with altogether,and the case or box practically provides the base or standard of thevoting machine proper, when used for voting purposes; and when not inuse, the machine sits within and at the base of the stout wooden orother case or box, secure against all damage and tampering therewith.When the voting machine is to be used, a suitable portion or portions ofthe case or box are opened, preferably by means of an arrangeclosely tothe lower portions of the outer sides of the case, and thus form noobstructions to the use of the machine. Then, by any suitablecontrivance, either by the movements of the parts of the case or box, orby the use of a screw, worm, or other mechanism, or other device, thevoting machine may be raised to a height equal to that now attained,when the detachable legs or stand ards are used. It will thus beevident, that when the voting machine is in its elevated position, thelower part of the case forms a suitable substitute for the usual legs orstandards of the machine.

l/Vhen the election is over and it is desired to pack and store themachine, which under the law must be done immediately, the mechanism isreadily reversed by those in charge of the election'precinct, the votingmachine being slipped back to the bottom of the case or box, and themovable portions or sections of the case or box folded about the machineand then securely locked.

The trouble at present experienced in preparing the voting machines, intaking them out of the cases to arrange the ballots within the machines,packing them again in the cases, unpacking them again at the pollingplaces, the use of several men in setting up the machines, and then,finally, the reversing of all of these steps after the election, hasthus, by our present invention, been most successfully overcome.

Other objects of our present invention not at this time more especiallymentioned will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

With the various objects of our present invention in View, the inventionconsists in the novel arrangements and combinations of the variousdevices and parts of the same, with a view of combining the votingmachine and its casein one apparatus, as well as in the various detailsof the construction of the said various devices and parts, all of whichwill be hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied inthe clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form anessential part of this specification.

One embodiment of our present invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of oneform of case or box in which the voting machine is packed for shippingor storing purposes, when not is use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection of the box or case, with the movable or separable parts orsections of the case shown in their inclosing relation, and a front viewof one form of voting machine and raising mechanism, represented intheir inclosed positions within the closed parts of the case or box.Fig. 3 is a similar view of the various devices and parts represented insaid Fig. 2, but showing the movable or separable parts or sections ofthe case or box in their opened and folded positions, with the.

voting machine in its elevated or raised position ready for voting. Fig.4 is a top view of the case or box, with its movable or sepa' rableparts or sections opened or folded back, and a top or plan view of thevoting machine and raising mechanism. Fig. 5 is a transverse verticalsection, taken on line 55 in said Fig. 3, looking in the direction ofthe ar row as. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section and partly inelevation, and upon an enlarged scale, of parts of the case or box and aportion of the voting machine, with one of the lifting or raisingdevices in operative relation with the said case or box and votingmachine; and Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional representation of a portionof the body of the case or box, and a portion of one of its flaps ormovable sections, showing in connection therewith, a sliding bolt forlocking the parts upon the inside of the case or box. Fig. 8 is a detailmodification of a part of the lower portion of a voting machine, a partof a vertical screw, and a bracket provided with a screw-threadedreceiving device or socket arranged upon said screw for raising andlowering the voting machine; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, illustrating a slightly modified arrangement of the partsof the lifting or raising mechanism.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates one complete form of case or box, and 2 is anysuitable form of voting machine, showing one arrangement of the votingmachine within the case or box, with an idea of producing and making thevoting machine and case one apparatus which is practical for allpurposes, especially those of storing, shipping, and voting, as well aslooking to prevent tampering with the machine when not in use. I

The preferred form of case or box, as shown herein, comprises twoseparable portions 3 and 4, as will be seen more particularly from aninspectionof Figs. 1, 2 and 9 of the drawings. The lower portion 3consists, essentially, of a suitable base or bottom 5, a pair oflongitudinally extending sides 6, and ends 7, all suitably securedtogether in a solid and fixed relation, and suitably disposed handles 8may also be provided, as shown in Fig. 1. The said upper portion 4consists, essentially, of an arrangement of flaps or longitudinal sidesor members 9 secured to the said sides 6 by means of hinges 10, anarrangement of flaps or ends 11, secured to the ends 7 by means ofhinges 12, and a cover 13 secured by means of hinges 14 to one of saidsides or members 9. Hasps 15 and staples 16 provided with looks, as 17,may be secured in various positions to the several members or flaps, toretain and secure them in their closed relation upon the said lowerportion 3 of the case or box 1, as clearly illustrated in said Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. Of course, it will be understood, thatthis arrangement ofthe said parts hereinabove described is but one of the many combinationsand arrangements of which they are capable, and we may employ any othersuitably constructed main box or case 1; or, the lower and upperportions of the said case or box maybe constructed and arranged in anyother desired and suitable manner, as will be clearly evident.

One preferred form of device or mechanism for raising and lowering thevoting machine 2 is represented in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of thedrawings; and, the same consists, essentially, of a base or platform 18upon which the said machine 2 rests and has its base or lower portion 20suitably secured by means of angle-irons 19, or any other suitablefastening devices. The said base or platform 18 is suitably fitted inthe boxshaped lower portion 3 of the case or box 1, and is provided atits respective ends with screw-threaded nuts or other suitably shapedscrew-receiving members or devices 20, in each of which is rotatablyarranged a portion of a screw 21. The lower end-portions of the saidscrews 21 are provided with suitable sprocket wheels 22 over which isplaced a link-chain 23, substantially as shown. Suitably secured uponthe said bottom 5 of the lower portion 3 of the case or box 1 aresuitably constructed bearings 24, preferably provided with suitablydisposed anti-friction balls or rollers 25, upon which the lower ends ofsaid screws 21 rest, by having their annular shoulders 26 placed uponthe said balls or rollers, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings. The upper enclportion of each screw 21' is madecylindrical, as at 27, the screw-threads being omitted, and eachcylindrical portion 27 is rotatively arranged in a bearing 29 of asuitable bracket 28, secured one against the inner face of each end 7 ofthe said lower portion 3 of the case or box 1. Loosely and rotatablyarranged upon the upper portion of each screw 21, which extends beyondthe upper surface of the said bearing 29 on each bracket 28, and restingupon each bearing 29, is a sleeve or collar 30, and aflixed upon theextreme free end of the cylindrical portion 27 of each screw 21, aboveeach sleeve or collar 30, is a miter or bevel gear 31. Extending fromone side of each sleeve or collar 30 is a plate or arm 32 which isprovided with a perforation 33 and a pin 34 adapted to be passed throughthe perforation 33 and into a receiving socket 35 connected with eachend 7 of the lower portion 3, whereby each plate or arm 32 can be movedover the upper edge of an end 7 to affix the same, and the partsconnected therewith, rigidly in their operative positions, for thepurposes to be presently described. Each arm or plate 32, as will beseen, is also provided with an upwardly .extending post 36, each post 36carrying a bearing 37 and a short spindle 38. One end ofeach spindle 38is provided with a miter or bevel wheel 39 in mesh with a bevel wheel orgear 31, previously men tioned, and at its opposite end each spindle 38is made with a wrench or crank-receiving end 40.

From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, it will be clearlyseen, that when the voting machine 2 and its supporting platform 18 arein their normally lowered relation withinthe case or box 1, the saidarmsor plates 32, with the corresponding posts 36 and bearings 37 arearranged in vertical planes at right angles to the central verticalplane passing through the central vertical axes of the two screws 21 andlongitudinally through the body of the voting machine. Now, when it isdesired to use the voting machine 2 for the placing of the ballotstherein, or for voting purposes, the various flaps or sections of theupper portion 4 of the case or box 1 are opened or folded back, and eacharm or plate 32, with its corresponding parts, is turned intolongitudinal alinement with the vertical plane passing through thecentral axes of the said screws 21, that each 'plate or arm 32 will restdirectly upon the upper edge of an end 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 3and 6, and then fixed in position by means of the pins 34 in the mannerhereinabove mentioned. A crank 41, or other suitable device, is thenplaced upon one of the ends 40 of one of the said spindles 38, and arotary movement thus produced of the one screw 21, which is conveyed tothe other screw 21 by means of the sprocket-wheels 22 and the link-chain23, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of the severalfigures of the drawings, and resulting in the raising or elevatingof'the voting machine, with the greatest ease, from its lowered positionrepresented in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to its raised and votingposition, shown in said Fig. 3 of the drawings, the lower portion 3 ofthe case or box 1 serving as a base or standard for the voting machine,as will be clearly evident. By reversing the motion of the crank, theplatform 18 and the voting machine 2 may again be lowered into the lowerportion 3 of the case or box 1, with rapidity and ease, and the variousflaps or sections of the upper portion 4 of the case or box 1 then againbrought into their inclosing positions about the voting machine, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and locked. If desired, suitable bolts 42 may beused upon the inside and in connection with some of the flaps orsections of the upper portion 4 and the members of the lower portion 3of the case or box 1, as shown in the detail in Fig. 7 0f the drawings.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, we have shown a slightly modified arrangementof the mechanism for raising and lowering the voting machine and theplatform 18. The general arrangement of the screws 21 and the gearingand operating mechanism connected with the upper end-portion of eachscrew is the same as that just described in the foregoing specification,but the sprocket-wheels upon the lower end-portions of the said screws21 and the connecting sprocket or link-chain 23 are dispensed with. Withthis arrangement and construction of the parts, a crank has to beapplied upon each spindle 38, as will be clearly understood, thusrequiring two men to work the device instead of one man, as in thedevice, where the screws 21 are connected by means of the link-chain andsprocket wheels. The said base or platform 18, in some instances, mayalso be dispensed with, if desired, in which case, we secure to thelower edgeportions, at each end of the voting machine 2, substantiallyin the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, suitable brackets43 which are provided with the screw-threaded receiving portions 44arranged one upon each screw 21. The mechanism for turning the saidscrews 21, and the consequent upward and downward movements of the saidbrackets 43 and the voting machine 2 supported thereby, is the same asthat hereinabove described, and need not, therefore, be furtherdescribed at this time.

We claim 7 1. In an apparatus of the character specifled, thecombination with an auxiliary case, said case having a portion adaptedto be opened, of a vertically movable support in said case, a votingmachine carried by said support, mechanism for raising and lowering saidsupport, and means adapted to be rotatively moved over the edge-of thelower unopened part of the case for engagement with said raising andlowering mechanism to raise said support and the voting machine so as topresent the same for use when the case is opened.

2. In anapparatus of the character specified, the combination with anauxiliary case, said case having a portion adapted to be opened, of apair of screws in said case, a voting machine, means movably connectedwith said screws and carrying the said voting machine, and means adaptedto be rotatively moved over the edge of the lower unopened part of thecase for engagement with said screws for rotating the said screws andraising the voting machine so as to present the same for use when thecase is opened.

3. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with anauxiliary case, said case having a portion adapted to be opened, of apair of screws in said case, a voting machine, means movably connectedwith said screws and carrying the said voting machine, and means adaptedto be rotatively moved over the edge of the lower unopened part of thecase for engagement with said screws for rotating the said screws,consisting of a bevel-gear upon the upper portion of a screw, a spindle,a second bevelgear on said spindle and in mesh with the bevel gear ofsaid screw, said spindle and second bevel gear being adapted to berotatively moved over the edge of the lower unopened part of the casewhile retaining engagement with the first named bevel-gear, meansconnected with said spindle for actuating the same, bevel-gears andscrews, and means connecting the said screws for simultaneous rotation.

4. In a machine of the character specified, a case having a portionadapted to be opened, a pair of screws in said case, a voting machine,means movably connected with said screws and carrying the said votingmachine, and means for rotating said screws, consisting of a bevel gearupon the upper portion of a screw, a swinging frame provided with acollar movably arranged upon the screw, means for securing said swingingframe in a fixed position to a portion of the said case, a bearing onsaid swinging frame, a spindle insaid bearing, a second bevel gear onsaid spindle and in mesh with the bevel gear of said screw, meansconnected with said spindle for actuating said spindle, bevel gears andscrews, and means connecting the said screws for simultaneous rotation,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, a case comprising a lowerbody-portion consisting of .a base, longitudinally extending sides andends, said sides and ends being permanently fixed to said base so as toprovide a box, flaps hinged to said. sides and ends, so as to be adaptedto be folded down upon the surfaces of said sides and ends, a '1 coverhinged to one of said fiaps and adapted to be folded downwardly withsaid fiaps, locking devices connected with the various flaps and saidcover, a voting machine within said box, and means for raising saidvoting machine abovesaid box when the flaps and said cover have beenopened and folded downwardly, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

6. In an apparatus of the character specified, a case comprising a lowerbody-portion consisting of a base, longitudinally extending sides andends, said sides and ends being permanently fixed to said base so as toprovide a box, fiaps hinged to said sides and ends, so as to be adaptedto be folded down upon the surfaces of said sides and ends, a coverhinged to one of said flaps and adapted to be folded downwardly withsaid flaps, locking devices connected with the various flaps and saidcover, a platform movably arranged Within said box, a voting machineupon said platform, and means for raising said platform and the votingmachine above said box when the flaps and said cover have been openedand folded downwardly, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that We claim the invention set forth above We havehereunto set our hands this 30th day of January, 1905.

JAS. F. CONNELLY. JOHN H. MoLEOD. i

